It’s no secret that job management software boosts field service management operations. (We talk about it a lot 😂). But when businesses use advanced job management software features, they see dramatic results - like 6X annual growth, 40% increase in efficiency, and capacity for 4000 more jobs a year.
Businesses that unlock the full potential of their tech benefit from higher revenue, improved efficiency, and stronger relationships with their customers.
If you’re unsure if you’re using all your software’s advanced features, you’re in the right place. This guide shares 9 advanced features to improve productivity and grow your bottom line.
Let’s dive in.👇
9 advanced job management software features you need
Streamlining operations is no small feat, but the right job management software can make all the difference. From custom automation to customer portals, we’ve narrowed down the top nine advanced job management software features:
1. Custom automation ⚙️
Custom solutions aren't just a nice-to-have; sometimes, they're essential. Custom automation is your toolkit for creating processes tailored to your unique needs. For instance, some BigChange clients set up automation to create a note whenever a job is completed with issues. This small tweak alone can drastically reduce human error.
How? Automation in your job management software works through triggers. One action can prompt another, like creating a job from a note or adding a flag to indicate urgent attention.
Businesses use this to automatically flag jobs that have been completed but require immediate follow-up (more on this next). This means you no longer miss crucial issues. Plus, by using trigger filters, you can set up specific conditions. For example, you can create automation that activates only for certain job types or even individual customers.
With this type of highly customisable automation, you define the triggers, set the actions, and
establish the rules. In an industry where each moment counts, automation acts as a time-saver and an error minimiser.
2. Follow-on jobs ➡️
Ever thought about automating follow-on jobs based on specific outcomes? Enter: the follow-on jobs feature. As the name suggests, this feature automates any follow-on jobs required. You can use this feature for both positive and negative results.
For example, some businesses use it to automate their sales process. If a worker flags ‘Opportunity over 500’, it now triggers a ‘Corporate Sales Follow-up’ streamlining their pipeline. On the flip side, if a job results in a negative outcome, like ‘new boiler required’ a follow-on job to fit a new boiler can be automated.
It’s all about smart use of data. You’re already inputting positive and negative results in your job details. Why not use them to easily kick-start other jobs?
Field-mapping is another gem in this feature.💎 Let’s say your original job had constraints such as limits on delivery times or contact information; these can be automatically carried over to all follow-on jobs.
With the follow-on jobs feature, you’re not just automating; you’re streamlining a series of tasks to reach a successful outcome, quicker, and more accurately.
3. System integrations and APIs 🧩
Integrating your job management software with other tools isn’t just convenient; it’s a game-changer. For Medlec Group, it cut hours off their admin time and allowed them to grow without increasing their back-office headcount. They integrated BigChange with Xero, saying, “Now anyone can raise an invoice, not just the accounts team.”
Then there’s Clearabee who say integrations are a critical pillar in their technology strategy. “We make extensive use of BigChange’s API, and our developers can focus on creating other things to sit on top of the BigChange platform,” “We don’t have to think about things like device management, data contracts, hosting large amounts of sensitive data, or uptime.”
So what integrations can you link up? CRM systems like Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics can pass new jobs and customer data, while specialist software like inspHire can share rental hire and sales order processing.
If you’re using accounting packages like Sage, they can sync up invoicing, removing dual data entry. It’s not just about efficiency, but also data integrity.
Then there’s Microsoft Add-ins. They can reduce double-keying and make your team more productive. Or consider web-based phone integrations. Imagine a call comes in, and your customer’s details instantly pop up on screen. That’s not just efficient, it’s impressive.
And if you’re worried about technical aspects, don’t be. BigChange offers a range of integration services, so there’s a solution for you. With so much integration on offer, you are not just using software, but creating a complete ecosystem.🌐
4. Data as a Service (DaaS) 📊
Data is your business's lifeblood, so let's not settle for half-measures. BigChange's DaaS allows you to pull your data into your own Data Warehouse (a centralised hub storing data from multiple sources for analysis), offering a level of flexibility that's more than impressive.
Customers who are already reaping the benefits now have a tailor-made reporting experience that offers unique insights. Take Blade, an existing customer, as an example.
They’re using advanced analytics and a newly introduced dashboard to better understand a range of performance indicators, from quote conversion metrics to turnaround time stats.
“In my personal experience capturing data and using it to report are fundamental to success and improvement, and BigChange has given us a new dimension of analysis and evaluation,” says Commercial Director, Sally-Ann Twyndell.
“The system is powerful enough to enhance the customer experience and being able to produce month-to-month reporting for our clients and internal teams is providing valuable insight.”
The big win? Instant data access. Use tools like Microsoft PowerBI or embedded analytics like Panintelligence, to generate dashboards or reports in a flash. And as your business grows, our scalable solutions grow with you. No hitches, just smooth sailing.⛵
But keep this in mind: DaaS provides the raw data. You'll need someone skilled in data analytics to make the most of it. If that's a stretch, our pre-existing dashboards might be more your speed. Either way, DaaS is your ticket to a more insightful, data-driven future.
5. Advanced scheduling assistant 🗓️
Scheduling is by far the most popular job management feature. With the right tech, you can schedule jobs to supercharge growth. For FSE UK, a BigChange customer that experienced a 6x annual growth, this meant fewer overlaps and idle time. And more jobs booked in a day.
With a need to move away from using WhatsApp to communicate with the workforce, FSE used advanced scheduling to create end-to-end digital workflows. “Since implementing BigChange we have grown from four or five engineers to nearly 30 and, in all honesty, I can see that doubling in the next year,” says Rob Holt, Head of Building Services, FSE UK.
Angloco is another business that put this into action. “We have all but eliminated paper from our mobile operation which has improved the speed we can react to changing schedules, the quality of the service we provide, and the efficiency of engineers working on the ground,” says Ian Coyle, Service Operations Manager.
By scheduling in this way, you optimise both time and resources. The trick is to use the right tech.
6. Dynamic route optimisation 📌
In an industry that’s always on the road, reducing fuel consumption, and optimising every trip is vital. Route optimisation works by analysing real-time data, such as road conditions, traffic, and weather to provide the best route possible.
It’s a strategy with the potential to save thousands, all while fitting more jobs in a day and helping the environment.🌿 You can make your engineers even more efficient by using route optimisation tools that fine-tune routes to cut carbon emissions.
BigChange customer Atlas, for example, optimised scheduling and intelligent route planning to measure and manage its own carbon emission.
With optimised routes and more efficient driving Atlas can save fuel and be more environmentally friendly, the company expects to save 300 tonnes of carbon, and, using
BigChange, the company plans to be 100% paper-free.
Then there’s Precision FM, which creates daily schedules taking into consideration resource skills, routing issues, and job histories to plan routes in the most fuel-efficient way.
Real-time vehicle tracking and field engineers live-linked to back-office teams via their mobile phones allow for accurate ETAs to be calculated and shared, and changes to schedules or emergency call-outs can easily be incorporated.
7. Real-time job tracking 📲
Job tracking isn’t just a way to see where all your resources are. With the right tech, you can allow for the real-time exchange of time critical information and the automatic sharing of job-specific paperwork.
For nationwide waste management company Serious, a BigChange customer that saw a 30% increase in business growth, this meant less time firefighting and more time forward planning.
Fed up with standalone systems, Serious moved to BigChange. This gave the entire team one simple to use integrated solution.
BigChange’s real-time job tracking has also boosted customer service with a greater capacity to respond to emergency call-outs and total visibility of the field operation.
Macaw Security Services is another business that reaped the benefits. “Using BigChange we have ‘eyes’ on every part of the field operation,” says Dominic Cattermole, Engineering Director.
“We know where our engineers are, where they have been, and where they are going next. We have real-time visibility of works as they are being completed and so we can report back to our clients.”
Macaw has improved the efficiency of its installation and maintenance engineers by between 25-40% which equates to an additional capacity of around 4000 jobs a year.🚀
By adopting real-time job tracking, you remove the guesswork and give clients the transparency they crave.
8. Vehicle tracking and fleet management 🚗
Monitoring your fleet location is just the tip of the iceberg. Advanced vehicle tracking dives deep into metrics like driving behaviour, fuel efficiency, and even engine diagnostics, servicing, and repairs.
For DW Forklift, this resulted in a 50% increase in productivity and 24/7 visibility. Plus, they were able to preempt vehicle issues before they led to costly downtime.
Before BigChange, the administration of the mobile operation, including quoting, production of job cards, scheduling of work, and fleet management, could take up to 4 hours a day and DW Forklifts was on the brink of hiring an additional member of staff.
This has now been slashed to just one hour a day, freeing up back-office time, which is now being redeployed with a focus on business expansion and customer service. Integrated vehicle tracking has also led to additional savings, as it has eliminated the need for a third-party system.
Cornwall Waste Care (CWC) is another company that embraced this feature. CWC is improving the management of its growing fleet of Isuzu tipper trucks.
Each operative is guided through a series of vehicle checks before the start of their waste collection shift, designed to spot defects before they become an issue and improve fleet performance.
Driver behaviour alerts, including flags for harsh braking, speeding, and idling, also impact CWC’s bottom line, reducing fuel consumption and minimising vehicle wear and tear.
The bottom line: The vehicle tracking and fleet management feature saves money, reduces risks, and boosts efficiency.
9. Client portal 👩💻
A client portal does more than offer a window into ongoing projects; it's a hub for all interactions between you and your customers. An integrated customer portal allows Precision FM’s customers to access the information they need, such as audit requirements, onsite compliance and certification documents, service histories, and invoices, when required. All in an accessible format and with live tracking for work in progress.
As well as the job management element and customer portal, the business was also able to track SLAs and report on job success rates, monitor agreed KPIs, identify patterns, and highlight areas for investment or remedial spending.
A&S is another business that saw the benefits of offering a client portal. With customer service central to A&S, BigChange provides an important platform for customer mediation, with a portal allowing customers to access all information, including quotes, bookings, job cards and invoices.
Group Managing Director, Sean Coldrick says, “The system allows us to meet any contract specification, opening up new business opportunities and much bigger contracts – with the assurance that we can deliver exceptional service with a well-proven system and processes.”
Advanced job management features FAQs
While advanced features offer a host of benefits, they naturally invite a few queries. This FAQ section aims to clear any fog, allowing you to implement these features with confidence.
What's the learning curve for these advanced features?
Most advanced features are designed with user-friendliness in mind. Plus, vendors like BigChange often offer training sessions, guidance on the website, webinars, and documentation to ease the transition. And the customer success team will provide bespoke support where needed.
Do I need to upgrade my package to access these features?
This largely depends on your existing plan. Some advanced features might come as part of a premium package, so it's best to consult with your provider.
How quickly can I see results from implementing these advanced features?
While immediate improvements are possible, the most dramatic results often come after a few months of data collection and optimisation. To see what results you can expect you can use our handy savings calculator here.
Is my data secure with these advanced features?
Reputable job management software providers like BigChange comply with stringent data security regulations to ensure your information is kept secure.
Can I customise these features to suit my business needs?
Yes, many advanced features can be adjusted to fit your unique needs. In fact, BigChange prides itself on offering extensive customisation options to align perfectly with your unique business needs.
Do these advanced features integrate with other software tools I'm using?
Most modern job management software solutions offer robust integration capabilities with popular CRMs, accounting software, and other essential business tools.
If you've got more questions or are ready to take the plunge, we’d love to talk. 🙋♂️
Final word on advanced job management software features
We’ve been through the nitty-gritty of advanced job management software features, from savvy scheduling assistants to transformative client portals. But this is more than a list; it's a roadmap to untapped business potential.
Whether you're a small enterprise or a growing giant, these features offer a scalable solution for better productivity and happier customers.
At BigChange it isn't just about what we offer now—it's also about where we're headed.
We're rolling out BigChange Pay as we speak, an advancement that promises to streamline your transactions even further.
Data as a Service (DaaS) will continue to evolve, offering even more flexibility and data-driven insights for your business. And there's more on the horizon. Expect to see some game-changing upgrades in route optimisation and scheduling.
We also have our eyes set on ramping up our stock/asset management functionality in 2024. While we can't spill all the beans, let's just say our roadmap includes additional financial and hardware offerings that are sure to pique your interest.
With these developments, BigChange is not just software, but a comprehensive solution for your operational needs. So, as you plan your business's future, know that BigChange is planning right alongside you.
🚀Ready to unlock the full potential of your business? Talk to our experts.
Looking for more?
- Read the guide to job management software
- Explore the signs you’ve outgrown your current job management software
Check out the future of job management software and trends for 2024
